Peggy V. McCallen, 92, of Wabash, Indiana, died at 10:58 am, Sunday, November 21, 2021, at Miller’s Merry Manor East in Wabash. She was born on January 6, 1929, in Terre Haute, Indiana to Bernard VanBorssum and Jessie (Connett) VanBorssum. Jessie was a businesswoman and Peggy’s father, Bernard, had gone to the Alaskan Gold Rush, played on a Phillies farm team, and owned theaters in Terre Haute, Indiana.
She had a happy childhood learning to play the accordion and the piano, and taking dance lessons. She loved her horses, Omaha and Queenie, and enjoyed horseback riding all her life. She met her husband, Bob McCallen, while attending Eastern Illinois University. They married June 20, 1948 in Terre Haute. The couple lived in Springfield, Illinois, and Hartsville, South Carolina, where Bob taught special education classes. In 1953, Bob enrolled in Indiana University law school and Peggy took a job as secretary for the executive director of the Southern Indiana Methodist Church Conference.
They moved to Wabash, Indiana in 1956 when Bob began his law practice. Peggy was a mother and active businesswoman. She owned an apartment building and rented apartments, became a real estate broker and had her own firm, took flying lessons, started Maids in Wabash – a professional home cleaning service, established a wedding shop called Wedding Belles, and owned the Depot, an antique business. Peggy made dozens of Halloween costumes and special birthday cakes, and cared for many dogs, cats, mice, ducks, and swans. She was a published author, a voracious reader, loved traveling, tea parties, numerous hobbies and spending time with her family.
She is survived by her five children, Peggy (Alan) Grossnickle, Page (Shane) Himes, both of Warsaw, Indiana, Bryan (Sylvia) McCallen of Wabash, Paula McCallen of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Robert R. (Chris) McCallen III of Wabash, 13 grandchildren and 37 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband, Robert R. McCallen Jr., who died September 8, 2015.
Per Peggy’s request, there will be a Celebration of Life at 1:00 pm, Saturday, January 8, 2022, at the Honeywell House, 720 N. Wabash Street, Wabash. Arrangements by Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, Wabash.
Preferred memorials are an Animal Shelter of the donor’s choice, the Honeywell Foundation Banner Contest, or Bob and Peggy McCallen Entrepreneurship Endowment Scholarship at Grace College and Seminary.
The memorial guest book for Peggy may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.
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